paradigm

Let's say this week you and I "accidentally" eat that pound cake that has been staring at us from atop its lofty perch in the pantry since Christmas. Seems plausible, right? We are just hanging out, watching John and Kate plus 8 or somethin' and bam! 2000 calories of pain inc.

Let's also say you live across the street. Later that night you are throwing up like crazy and you notice through bloodshot eyes that I am not up puking. "Man," you think to yourself, "that guy has an iron stomach."

The next morning you wake up a little sore in the belly and with morning breath but I don't wake up at all.

Now, which one of us was sick? You, whose body rejected the poison, or me whose body was not able to reject it. Right, I was the sick one.

Now, which one of us had all the symptoms? Right, you did. Puking hurts, but it doesn't hurt as bad a being dead from food poisoning.

Think about that next time you get told to "come back when it hurts." Or to "wait until it hurts" to do something.

Lack of symptoms is not an indicator of health. This kind of bs-ery is what got this nation into the health crisis it's in.

Here endeth the lesson.